It always seems to be enlivening to bring new ideas into the home at this time of year, creating colour schemes to match the new growth emerging from outside the home and delighting at the new furniture designs which would fit equally well within a gorgeous spring like theme.

However, before spring arrives, now is the time to make use of those dreary winter months and go searching for inspiration for the home, there are many websites out there offering new design trends and the ultimate pieces of furniture which will accentuate any style you choose.

The first step towards getting your home ready for spring is a pair of scissors, some glue and a large square bit of cardboard.  All the things you like from wallpaper, to an image of a sunset, even the type of bookcase which inspires you needs to be added to the board.  Cut pictures out of magazines or print images from the net, you can even add texture to the board with odd pieces of material you like, and you can even add the samples of the finish of the furniture you like.

Once you have your board, you can see what inspires you, what type of feel you are wanting in your room and how functional your design will be.   With all this in mind, it makes it much easier to work out during your spring cleaning where all the clutter accumulated form the past year will go.  If you haven’t featured storage into your design plans, then the decluttering process is doomed from the start.

Ideally before you start your spring clean you need to have the storage to make it look as though you have gone through the whole of the house.  Bedrooms can be notorious for clutter, especially children’s bedrooms, what goes on there makes the mind boggle, but having the necessary storage facilities within your bedroom furniture makes like a lot simpler.  Shelving options within a wardrobe are perfect for children’s books and jigsaw puzzles, with possibly the odd cuddly toy thrown in.  All of these items are dust traps and if you can store them away, it makes the job of keeping things organised much less of a headache.

If you intend to have a real big spring clean this year, a bit of forward planning makes the world of difference and you should be free of clutter, everything will be in its place and you will have a great looking home.

Cheaper rugs are not of inferior quality and are mainly directly procured from the factory floor.   The antique woolen rug is an exclusive piece and it comes in colors like ivory, olive green, burgundy and blackberry black. The texture is dense and it provides softness, durability and also feels fine to touch.

When purchasing a rug for your home, it is important that the features need to be considered.  Rugs come in a wide variety.  Some rugs are simple whereas some are classy.    Just like old wine, old classic rugs are in demand due to their classy and unique features.

From oriental rugs to Persian rugs, you could identify rugs which are very similar in texture and fineness like costly rugs.   There are many people who opt for designer rugs, even though they may not have the capacity to spend.  Rugs still aim at lending ambience and harmony to homes.    The right way to do it is to shop online for your rugs.

 As the name suggests, shaggy rugs have an unkempt and hairy look.  They are modern day rugs and they are a craze of late.  They come in various designs like European, Contemporary, Native American, Persian and Oriental designs.  Shaggy Rugs are used to beautify your room and space.  The first type of shag rug was made some 50 years ago and they were a craze during the 60s and the 70s.  They have made a comeback with a bang.  They are made by using wool types like art silk, leather, wool felt, New Zealand wool etc.

Shaggy rugs add warmth and style to any interior setting.  They are cozy and can be placed in front of the fireplace.  Modern day Shaggy rugs are strong and durable.

Modern rugs have a superb range of designs, color combinations and shapes.  These rugs have a solid color and perfect shape which can be suited to any room or situation.  You could go in for a modern rug which is solid in nature, if you live in a room with some crowded furniture.   Subtle colors in modern rugs are used nowadays, so as to give a bigger look to the room.

You could always go in for a country look rug like the rooster or strawberry vine.  Color is of essence when it comes to decorating your homes with rugs.  A small room can be made to look bigger and a bigger room cozier, if the right combination of modern rugs is blended.

From towels to bed linen they have a huge selection of products. In particular their luxury cushion covers come in a range of fabrics. Using narrow stripes, panels, paisley or Cyrillic, these sophisticated and chic fabrics can help transform your living space into a haven of modern and yet traditional style.

Moreover the most striking style of cover is the paisley pattern, which is available in red and also in a natural tone. This with the duck feather filled pads will help to complete your desired effect, whether you’re creating a place of tranquillity or using them to boost any feature areas you may have.

Textures have such an importance in any room that may sometimes be missed by many. For example a textured cushion on a smooth sofa or chair will help to make this stand out and also become more inviting. The same applies in a bedroom with textures, in some cases, being used to enhance a theme or highlight a particular piece of furniture.

To accompany textures think of patterns that will give your room an exciting new luxury feel. Try mixing traditional styles like the paisley cushion covers with more contemporary patterns. For example, a paisley cushion on a modern throw will again help bring your home to life.

Modern living room furniture takes into account the period which is the latter half of the 20^th century and this period saw the emergence of furniture styles rich in utility as well as easy to maintain and shift about within the room.

With this we saw the birth of the modern sectional sofa and the modern TV stand which now lead the way in interior design. Modern TV stands have come on leaps and bounds within the last year; giving your living space a sophisticated, modern look. With finishes from natural wood, black gloss, textured leathers and metal frames, this piece of once ordinary furniture is now stunningly stylish.

Materials Used
They were mainly of different types of wood like beech, pine and birch, though metals were also used in combination to ensure that the finished product was light, tough and resulted in saving of space.  The preferred metals were steel, chrome and later on plastics too made an entry.

Finishes
Modern furniture is characterized by the smooth and glossy appearance of their surfaces and typically their supports are constructed out of steel with high quality fabric or leather upholstery.  Teak wood is the wood of choice for items like tables, shelves and cabinets.  The material for the upholstery offers a tremendous choice of colors and designs, but the preference seems to be skewed in favor of neutral colors as they seem to blend well with the overall ambience and presents a chic look.  Walls are typically light colored in shades of white or pastel and they complement the furniture with neutral tones the best.
Modular Furniture – Growing Trend
One concept that has made great strides in modern day furniture is modular furniture.  These are very versatile and sport the built in capability.  So you can have side tables of various sizes that can either be kept separately or piled up for a totally different look.  You can use the modular bench as a coffee table or for seating and as far as sofas are concerned, the combinations are really far too many to suit the needs of every individual.  The L-shaped sofas double up as single chairs on the short side and on the long one; they can be used as sofas without the need for arms.  Maintenance is minimal and it is the versatility of such furniture that has appealed to the modern generation. When it comes to getting that ‘ultra chic look’ modern sectional sofa units offer a huge amount of flexibility, allowing you to arrange your sofa exactly how you want it.

Modern living room furniture has indeed redefined the concept of style, keeping pace with the requirements of the modern generation.

These bean bags and love sac chairs as they are often referred to, make for ideal fun furniture.  They can be easily stacked and shifted from room to room without any inconvenience when in need of additional seating.

When you have to make do with less in terms of living room space, creating a comfortable environment without compromising on the existing space can only be possible with some innovative ideas.  Bean bag chairs are a great advantage in these situations as they are a great combination of both fun as well as utility.  You can make a nice conversation space by just positioning these bean bags on either side of a love seat such that they face inwards.

Since these bean bags are ideal fun items, you can enhance the room features by utilizing them in a variety of ways such as using bright red bean bags as apples in a child’s room with an apple tree painting complementing it.  You can also create a sports theme room by using these bean bags as footballs or basketballs positioned at key places in the room.

The bean bag besides providing great utility and fun value is relatively inexpensive and its versatility makes it a must for every home.  Another advantage that has been less espoused is its therapeutic value in terms of providing a great seating place for expectant mothers and persons recovering from a back problem.

For one, most pieces of contemporary furniture – right from modern bedroom furniture to modern living room furniture tends to be designed with ‘taste’ rather than practicality as the chief feature. It is not hard to see why. The modern home improvement enthusiast, after all, is looking for home improvement to bring their home in live with a certain ‘fixed’ mental picture they have in their minds, and only gives thought to the practicalities (durability and stuff) of the furniture they buy as a secondary consideration, after it has passed the ‘tastefulness’ test. That is why the modern furniture maker will tell you a lot about the ‘fashionability’ of their modern sectional sofa, but very little of its durability and so on. This is not an oversight on the part of the furniture maker. He knows, after all, that their client won’t think about the durability of the modern sectional sofa unless it first passes the ‘tastefulness’ test.

Contemporary furniture tends to be much more expensive than classical furniture. We are, after all, living in an age when people are willing to pay what would previously been considered a fortune for furniture, if that furniture promises to offer them ‘tasteful’ living in exchange.

When all is said and done, contemporary furniture does tend to be made more with the needs of the final user in mind. The contemporary furniture user is after all much more informed on what to look for in furniture, and has many more options in terms of places to go shopping for such furniture, and the furniture maker knows this only too well.

Seeing the importance that many people place on their bathrooms, it is no wonder that information on bathroom design ideas is one of the categories most widely searched for. Matters are not made any easier by the fact that at the time when most of the currently practicing architects went to school, all a bathroom had to be was to be practical and no one cared about taste much then.

Most exquisite bathroom design ideas currently being employed revolve around the skillful use of bathroom lighting, flooring, and accessories.

With regard to the bathroom lighting, it is considered tasteful to have a bathroom that lets in as much natural lighting as possible – and this is a suggestion you are apt to find in almost all modern bathroom design idea forums. As it were, in olden bathroom designs, the idea seemed to (albeit unconsciously) keep away natural lighting as much as possible, and the result was always that drab look that the practical bathrooms of the old came to be associated with. Of course, the task of getting as much natural lighting into the bathroom as possible is quite a difficult one. The nature of bathrooms tends to allow only for minimal window spaces – which is a real constraint in this respect – because the window is considered the main natural light inlet in most other rooms, and people who want a lot of natural light in other rooms always have the option of getting as big windows as they want. Obviously, for a bathroom, this is pretty much impossible – hence the need to find a way or ways of maximizing on the natural light that comes through the relatively smaller bathroom window.

With regard to the bathroom floor- tasteful people often opt to do away with the vinyl carpeting that characterized the ‘practical’ bathrooms of the old – instead opting for materials like marble which are considered more tasteful (for those who can afford them). For those who are more constrained budget-wise, there is always the option of going for ceramic tiling – which is generally cheaper than marble, but which is considered more tasteful than the ‘vinyl’ of the old.

And with regard to accessories like bathroom taps, while there are no hard rules, the general idea is usually to use accessories that set the room apart from the ‘ordinary drab’ bathroom. A chat with any good plumber actually reveals that there is so much choice in terms of accessories like bathroom taps that a skilled person – just by looking at the particular bathroom taps you employed can tell just how much in terms of effort and money you put into the rest of the house.

These metal storage shelves and racks are made storage worthy by plugging the sides and the rear portions with specially designed panels.  They not only provide good space but can also bear a lot of weight which is ideal for industrial and warehousing requirements.

These metal shelving and racking equipment however are a strict no from the home décor perspective.

Such closed shelving and racking units are most suited to assembly line functions where the workforce requires entry on a regular basis to retrieve small machine parts.  Two types of gauges – the 10 and 20 gauge metal shelving and racking are the most commonly used.

In contrast, the open metal shelving arrangement is better utilized in narrow spaces and vertical open spaces can be turned into space for storage.  Since they are not sealed from the sides or the rear, retrieval of items is very easy.  The 20 gauge open metal shelves are very sturdy and can hold close to 450 pounds making them apt storage equipment.  Some of the smaller gauge units are very suitable for documents and other light items associated with a corporate environment.

They are however not suitable for home use and will not add to the aesthetics or add any value to your home improvement initiative.

Broader and lengthier metal shelving and racking are used in factories since most of the industries would need such shelving and racking arrangements to house their heavy equipments, machinery, gears and other apparatus.  In case one has had the opportunity of entering an industrial unit, one would notice that vast areas of an entire wall has been efficiently utilized and converted into separate units for storing.  Such large spaces are basically used to accommodate parts of motors, any site related materials, tools and tackles.  Chemicals are stored in these places since they prevent erosion and corrosion.

Rivet metal shelving and racking are also quite within the budget where one does not have to shell loads of money.  There is easy accessibility to the stored articles and components.

]]> http://www.ihomeimprovement.biz/interior-design/correct-shelving-racking-system/feed/ 2 http://www.ihomeimprovement.biz/home-decorating/kitchen-cabinets-refacing/ http://www.ihomeimprovement.biz/home-decorating/kitchen-cabinets-refacing/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:35:16 +0000 lessana http://www.ihomeimprovement.biz/?p=621 by Eugene Makeev

The kitchen, the heart of every home, draws each and every family member through its essential purpose, building up hours and hours of bonding moments. It has even become a place where many homeowners entertain their guests. The most frequented area in the house, a splash of change is a great way to upgrade and refresh its look. Being one of the most noticeable features in the kitchen, kitchen cabinets refacing is an ideal task to undertake. This change can greatly add to the overall value of your home, enhance the quality of living and can even make up for an effective stress-buster, especially those living through the hustle and bustle of big cities like New York.

Kitchen cabinets refacing is one of the less expensive home improvement projects that you could tackle that could considerably create an impact to your home. Other than costing just about a third of the amount you have to allot to a cabinet replacement project, it cal also be done by a professional in as fast as two days. This can be done to whatever type of cabinet so long as the cabinetry is still in great condition and the layout suits you well. Refacing is your solution to an outdated look. But if there are already signs of damage and deterioration or you want to change the location of your kitchen cabinets, then you what you should be looking into is replacement for the whole feature which can be quite costly.

Before getting on with the task, keep in mind that kitchen cabinets refacing require ample carpentry skills. In case of repairable damages like holes, certain measures like sanding, filling and sealing should be done first before the installation of new faces can be done. The current finish of the cabinets should also be determined as the removal of different finishes requires different products. Measurements need to be accurate. If you think you are not up to the job, then hiring a cabinet refacing contractor or company is the better way. Though availing of contractor services can add to the budget, this option poses less risks and can add considerably to the years that you and your family can enjoy the new look.

Kitchen cabinets refacing is done through adding new doors or faces, replacing hardware and improve the framework holding them. The framework can be spruced up using different approaches. The exposed portions of the existing frames can resurfaced with paint, matching wood or install laminate veneer over them. Veneer comes in cherry, oak and maple and is available in a range of stains and thickness. Some of the most popular refacing materials used by homeowners include: wood veneer, wood over wood laminates and plywood. When the hardware already shows signs of wear or still remains dull even after polishing, then it is high time to replace them. It is important to shop for hardware such as knobs, cases and pulls that complement the rest of your cabinetry. Your choice of kitchen cabinets refacing products will affect the overall price of the project, appearance and durability.

About the Author

Eugene Makeev has been in the home improvement industry for a while. His skills and expertise, which have been polished through time, are now used to help New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls in home improvements by matching their needs with the right, prescreened Cabinet Refacing Contractor New York. For more visit NYC Contractors.

How comfortable you are in your own home can often be influenced by the products that you purchase for any room. For example, in the kid’s or parents bedroom the bedding (pillows, bed sheets, comforters, and so-on) and even the storage systems can have a large influence on how to room looks and feels.

Although pillows don’t influence the decor or look of a bedroom too much, they do influence how comfortable the room is to be in. If you invest in the best pillows you can expect them to be made from materials featuring new technology making them very comfortable and supportive to the body so that users can get the best rest during the night, or when sitting down in the case of a lumbar support pillow.

Pillows that are made specifically for lumbar support can be a great investment, especially those that spend a long time sitting in the car or at a desk. The natural ‘S’ shape of the spine can be maintained using these pillows which can help fight the problems that a lot of us have with back pain. The pillow acts to provide support to the lower back and relieve the stiffness in the lower back muscles.

Comforters are items that are not too expensive but can help add another color or pattern to a room, but also keeps you warm and cozy as well. Many models are quite versatile because they can have different designs on either side, however, one thing to bear in mind is the thread count as this can relate to quality. The more threads the comforter has often equates to great quality and comfort. Like many other bedding items, comforters are available in a range of size to fit many of the most common bed sizes.

One of the most effective ways to make a room look better is by removing any clutter. One of the best ways to do this is by investing in closet organizers to store things away. Most closet organizer sets can store all sorts of items that you may have lying around the bedroom, such as clothing, shoes and other accessories. As everyone has different things to store, closet organizers are available in many different sizes and materials. For tight or odd shaped spaces, there are custom closet organizer systems too.

Depending on personal preferences you probably have many ideas for the design and decor of your home, and there are plenty of products that can be purchased that will improve any room. For unique and unusual items the internet is a great place to look, plus often provide a great saving on most offline retailers of home furniture and products.

About the Author

Check out our site for closet organizer systems and cheap comforters.

Teak Furniture

Teak furniture adds the touch of elegance to the interior as well as the exterior of a house. Teak is the wood obtained from teak trees. It is yellowish brown in color and the durability of this wood is simply unbeatable. The teak wood is resistant to rooting and termites. The wood is capable of standing the weather extremities easily. Often ethnic, ornamentally curved furniture is prepared from teak wood. But it needs regular maintenance to retain the beauty of teak furniture. The polishing effects can make teak furniture glow noticeably. Teak cleaner and guard is available which are used in cleaning the teak furniture. Some of the popular brands manufacturing designer quality teak furniture like chairs, tables, bed, sofa sets, deep seating chairs are Kingsley-Bate , Rock Wood Casual Furniture, Country Casual, World Classics, Westminster Teak and many more. While shopping for teak furniture always look for brilliant workmanship in designs and good quality polish.

Dining Room Furniture

The furniture for the dining rooms should be space saving and sophisticated at the same time. Some people like to decorate their dining rooms with antique sets. The sets include a large six sitter or eight sitter dining table, chairs and side tables. Now you should consider the space before picking up a large table. The shape of the table matters a lot in occupying room. The oval and round tables engage much space than the square and rectangular ones. Those who have a small dining room can look for the small four sitter tables. You can also get modern designer tables which serve the purpose of a cupboard and a table simultaneously. The leather, satin and wrought iron dining room upholstery look extremely trendy and give your house an ultra modern appearance. The available colors for dining room furniture can be brown, dark chocolate, classic black etc.

Kitchen and Bathroom Furniture

You can be experimental with your kitchen furniture. There are ample scopes of decorating the kitchens with fashionable and useful furniture. The modular kitchen sets come as a complete solution for the entire kitchen décor. A set include the cupboards, sink, counter stools, small covered racks for utensils and everything else you can think of. They are available in various colors like beige, pale and dark brown, mahogany and black. If you wish to get the kitchen furniture separately and make a combination kitchen then the unique options available are microwave carts, Kitchen work centers and buffets and many more. Stylish kitchenware will give your kitchen an organized and compact look. The bathroom furniture includes shelves, basin cabinets, dressing sets including stools and mirrors, step stools, towel racks, laundry bags and many more. You are free to select the colors and shapes of this furniture that match the color of the floor and glaze tiles.

Furniture accessory

Shabby Chic furniture accessory is a popular line of bedroom and kids room decorative items. If you wish to incorporate both style and comfort in your furniture, this is going to be the best choice. You get this collection in unique colors to complement your décor. The floral patterns, fashionable stripes and elegant checks on the linens and mattresses add a different flavor to your room decoration. The kid’s room furniture accessories should feature interesting and multicolored patterns so that they can instigate imagination in your kids. The cushions, pillows and bolsters can be arranged nicely to create exceptional looks.

Now it is a very true fact that decorating the rooms with magnificent furniture and fashionable accessories is not enough for creating a perfect interior. You should maintain the beauty of your expensive upholstery with regular cleaning and organizing them everyday.

The personal touch 

So, when it comes to bedroom décor, a personal touch is most necessary. Bedroom is occupant’s private and personal space. It should reflect on the mood the occupant wants the room to project. It is not a formal room, like the living room. No guests are invited to your bedroom. It is solely the occupant’s haven. So, it has to be planned, keeping in mind the occupant’s mood, desire and comfort.  

Do not clutter your bedroom with too many decorative accessories.  Say no to TV, if possible. Personal photographs or canvas paintings bring a good décor to your bedroom. Flowers or scents give a pleasing feel. Soft music gives a soothing effect. Warm and neutral colors give excellent look to your bedroom. Lightings should not be extremely bright. Furniture, beddings and other bedroom accessories should be in sync with the mood of the occupant. It should reflect the occupants taste and make him most comfortable and relaxed in this chosen haven.  

Bedroom décor has different styles and themes, like the Master bedroom decor, kid’s bedroom décor, Teen’s bedroom decor etc. Different bedrooms are decorated with different styles. However bedroom décor’s need not be lavish or extravagant.  It should not lack personal touch and comfort. Though it should have the basic requirements of a bedroom that include bed, bedcovers, bed sheets, mattresses, pillows, cushions, cushion covers, side table, dressing table, curtains, paintings etc. It should be designed in such a way that it provides a relaxing atmosphere, warmth and comfort. Today market provides us with innumerous products that give us maximum convenience and maximum comfort, at an affordable price. So, choose products that suit your taste and need. 

Mattresses and Beds 

For a good sound sleep, you need a good mattress. One should not compromise on price, while buying a mattress. A good quality mattress, though high priced gives utmost comfort and relief from back and neck sprains. Available today are cotton mattresses, coir mattresses and foam mattresses, spring mattresses, latex mattresses etc. Customers can choose from a wide range of mattresses for comfort and to suit their taste. Memory Foam mattresses are therapeutic mattresses that relieves and eases pressure points and helps you to sleep better. These mattresses can be placed over a firm mattress and it will offer contour support, excellent circulation and will provide proper spinal alignment and reduce back pain when you sleep. A Memory Foam mattress will allow you to sleep in a most comfortable and convenient manner and reduce tossing and turnings. You will sleep peacefully and calmly on these convenient and revolutionary mattresses.

Like mattresses, there are a variety of beds to choose from. Beds too play an important role in giving you a tight and undisturbed sleep. While choosing a bed, it is best to choose the biggest one that fits your room. Today market has available air beds, bunk beds, water beds, loft beds, platform beds, adjustable beds, wooden beds, sofa beds, leather beds etc. to suit your various needs. There are excellent storage spaces available on beds. Leather beds are equally luxurious and comfy. They give an extra-ordinary appearance to your bedroom. Leather beds are available in variety of modern and contemporary designs, many sizes and variety of colors to match the bedroom décor. Choose leather beds with care and enjoy the luxury for years. 

Rest assured beds and mattresses 

Rest assured has an experience of about hundred years in making beds and mattresses. They have developed beds that give 100% comfort and give the room an elegant look. They have a wide range of beds, divans and mattresses ranging from the traditional ones to the very modern ones. The beds and mattresses designed by them give a touch of style and class to your bedroom. Rest assured believes in giving their customers high class products and assures them of comfort, durability and good health. They regularly strive to manufacture products that match high standards and so they focus on every last detail to satisfy customer needs. They believe in quality products, easy ordering and quick delivery. Simply said – With Rest Assured beds you are in good hands. 

Designing of bedroom is an art in itself. For a good décor bring out the creativity within you and paint the room with colors that makes you feel – that’s my den.

Designing your bedroom

If you are planning the most important room of your house – the bedroom, then it is not just about a large bed, bedding, pillows, bedcovers etc. It involves the right wall color, texture or pattern designs for the walls, special flooring, trendy curtains and curtain rods, stylish bed, side tables, comfortable mattresses and beddings, elegant bedcovers and bed sheets, pillows and cushions along with slip covers, the charismatic paintings, show pieces and many more things. This décor should reflect on the mood you want the room to project. The wall colors, lightings and furniture should be in sync with the overall mood and the theme being followed for bedroom decoration. Bedroom décor is a statement of style and personality of the occupant. As it is his personal space, a personal touch goes into designing of the bedroom. Every occupant will want this space to be cozy, warm and comfortable. At the same time he would want it to look elegant, stylish and trendy. Bedroom should express the taste, likes and mood of the occupant.

Colors and furniture for your bedroom.

You can go for warm and neutral colors on bedroom walls and enhance the look with some texture, artistic paintings etc. Bedroom furniture is usually made up of solid wood and metals. Master bedrooms should go in for king or queen size beds. Kid’s bedroom looks elegant with bunk beds. To suit your taste, market offers adjustable beds, air beds and platform beds. Choose the bed keeping in mind the size of the bedroom. A newly wedded couple can go for furniture with soft and pastel shades, that radiates warmth of love, while children’s furniture should reflect naughty streaks on outsides but be highly durable. Home furnishing bedding plays an important role in the decoration of any home. It is so vital that it gives the occupant a completely relaxed feel and helps him maintain good health. Today, fashion trends in home furnishing bedding are increasing day by day.  Easily available is a high range of bedding items that blends fashion with style perfectly. Mattresses should make you feel comfortable. Choose from the mattresses from wide range of springs to foam to latex. Cover your bed with cotton sheets having solid colors, prints and patterns. Select bedspread that complements your bed sheet and wall colors. There are many accessories like custom bed linens, comforter sets, mirrors, towels, cushions, quilts, cushion, carpet etc. which form an excellent range of home furnishings. Add some throw in pillows, which are available in different shapes, sizes and laces, along with the actual ones to give a level of comfort. It is advisable to change linens according to the seasons to bring out the desired effect. Side lamps or and they are a smart way to personalize your bedroom. Select the rugs that blend with rest of the bedroom decorations. Don’t leave walls and bedside tables without the extra personal touch. Photos, paintings, flowers are few nice ways to brighten up your room. Canvas photos definitely enhances the beauty and glory of your bedroom. Canvas photos are a priceless piece of art and no matter where you hang them, they brings color to the surroundings and compliments the décor. Today digital prints can transform your photo on canvas. designable candles add romantic mood to the bedroom. Area rugs add a depth to your bedroom.
An elegant dresser on the left side of the bed forms a fundamental piece of your bedroom furniture. Most popular styles of dressers have 6,7 or 8 drawers. Dressing tables come in different shapes and sizes. Some are large, some draped, some kidney shaped with elaborate mirrors and beautiful carvings. They add a touch of romance and glamour to any woman’s bedroom.

Final touch.

Do not overcrowd your bedroom. Bedroom should have an open and breathing space. If there is enough available extra space, it is always advisable to keep a rocking chair or a recliner inside the room. Having TV in bedroom is not recommended. Instead go for some soft music to give a soothing effect. This helps retain the personal touch of the bedroom, keeping it very private.

So, while designing your bedroom turn fashion into art, be creative. Make the bedroom, a place where you want to be.

The world of fabrics. A voyage into textures and colours that never ends.
My most pleasurable part of an interior design project!

As an interior designer I can spend hours sitting down at the fabric store going through infinite piles of fabric swatches. Looking at one and forgetting about the other. Placing dog ear marks on the favourite ones to go back to later and combine them with the rest of the colour of the room. One has to really and truly understand fabrics, know the way a fabric is going to respond to a certain treatment. Will it sag? Or will it stay stiff enough? Or maybe this particular fabric will not let in enough light through it!

I have just returned from Spain and Italy a couple of weeks ago, updating our fabric collections and bringing with me the very latest in styles and trends. Once again, my heart was doing pirouettes in my chest when all the new collections were being shown to me. Selecting the ones that would be ideal for use in our homes and having to sadly refuse others that are not suitable. The textures, the patterns, the weaves, their weight! It is like being at a restaurant where one serving of food just tastes better than the next, leaving the restaurant pleasantly full looking forward in returning soon.

This year most of the fabrics all reflect darker earth tones. Patterns are more daring than ever. Large woven patterns on a black background accompanied by metallic treads and shimmery sheers. It is all heading towards the glamorous and shabby chic direction. Rough linens embroidered in fine intricate designs or smooth silk crushed and creased to create a rougher look. In this period of French revival one also comes across the traditional patterns and colours. Damask as a matter of fact, woven onto an old gold or pewter colour. Used as panels on dining chairs or even as a tapestry on a Roman blind.

Smoky charcoal grey tones super imposed over tans and coffee tones. They get as close as one may get in almost calling them monochromatic. It’s a game between textures, which one of them is getting the most attention or which pattern is screaming out the most from the lot? Gone are the days when a client matches three or four co-ordinates from the same sample book to play safe. It is an adventure and challenge of combining different types of fabrics, from different fabric houses even! It all boils down to the ability of doing so. A natural flair that comes with experience.

In our mediterranean countries we definitely can accommodate this latest trend in fabric as our houses are flooded with light. Using sheers behind a curtain is always what I suggest to my clients. It blocks off the rigidity of the door or window frame and filters the glare. It also gives privacy without having to sacrifice the light.

When clients usually get to this stage, the stage of hanging their curtains and upholstering their sofas, finances would have started running low as the project would have endeavoured most of the bank account. However, one has to keep in mind that fabrics add the soul to the interiors. It is literally dressing up the finished interiors. It’s like going out one evening and having the perfect outfit to go with it! With the perfect shoes and the perfect accessories. It just seals off the space and makes it all just perfect.

Source – Kenneth Tanti